Tea and Sorcery – Writing Wrongs

Weekly writing check-in: plotting the plot

This week, I played around with ideas and structure for The Trouble with Necromancers (which may or may not remain as the title).

I do not want to revise (once again!) only to realize that I’m no closer to the true story.

Therefore, I’m questioning everything.

And I do mean everything. Lots of what if and do I need that and what happens when …

I hope this is it. If it isn’t? Well, then there’s a good chance this book and series weren’t meant to be. Or maybe that I need to let it compost for much, much longer than I have.

But I hope not. Let’s see what this new week brings.

Wish me luck.

Weekly writing check-in: a bump in the road

Not an actual representation of a plot bump

Hit a bit of a bump in the road–or plot as the case may be–with The Trouble with Necromancers. It seems that I have some … trouble.

So, this week, I looked at a new structure for the novel, and yes, that may take some (major) rewriting/re-drafting.

But I’m hoping this time I finally have what I need to tell this story.

However, I did manage to write a short story this week, one that was a lot of fun.

And that’s about it. It was a quiet, contemplative week, writing-wise.

Weekly writing check-in: done and done!

And yes, I drank a lot of coffee this week.

This week, I was not too optimistic. I completed the edit of The Trouble with Necromancers and the audio review for Coffee and Ghosts 1: Must Love Ghosts! I even managed a note or two for the second book in the series.

As far as progress goes for the week, I am pleased.

I can’t wait to share the audio of Coffee and Ghosts. The narrator is one of my all time favorites. I knew she’d do a fantastic job, but I’m completely blown away by her performance. She’s captured Katy’s voice completely, and even the minor characters shine.

That’s it for this week. (Except for prom–but that’s a whole different story. I may need to go back to writing YA one of these years. So. Much. Material.)

Weekly writing check-in: pour a cup a coffee …

I was too optimistic, but I came close. I have fewer than fifty pages left in this edit. I’m confident I can finish it off this week (well, 99.99% confident).

One additional thing I did this week was work on the notes for book two. I have seven pages of longhand notes along with an updated calendar (pro-tip: always write with a calendar), and a whole slew of new ideas.

Plus (and I’m so excited), the audio is in for Coffee and Ghosts 1: Must Love Ghosts! The narrator is fabulous and I can’t wait to share the end result.

So, this week, I’ll be pulling on the headphones and listening to nearly seven hours of Coffee and Ghosts. The last time I reviewed the text (for world building), I ended up with the overwhelming urge to drink cup after cup of coffee. I think I better stock up on a fresh supply along with some half and half.

Weekly writing check-in: snow and slow editing

As predicted I’m inching my way through the edits, and as predicted, we got a lot of snow. But it’s April and I’m pretty much over winter, so I didn’t take any pictures.

I’m up to page 50, but surprisingly, this isn’t a slog. Not only that, but I’ve (easily) cut five pages. I’m really enjoying going through the manuscript at this pace. That being said, I really hope this is the last major edit I need to do.

In exciting news this week, I listened to and approved the extended sample for the audiobook version of Coffee and Ghosts. The narrator is amazing, and I am So. Excited. Must Love Ghosts (Season One) is up first. I’m really looking forward to listening to the rest of the episodes.

Weekly writing check-in: spring break

Spring hasn’t exactly sprung here yet, but since the driveway is no longer an ice rink, I’ll take it.

I’m continuing the paper edit of The Trouble with Necromancers.

I’m really hoping to finish that this week. Just the paper part, mind you, not the part where I put all the updates into the actual manuscript. That’s its own challenge.

Otherwise, that’s about it. There’s not a lot that’s exciting about editing. Oh, look! I removed a comma. Oh, look! I put it back in.

Weekly writing check-in: back again

I was offline for a bit. And now? Here I am! Back again.

I’m working my way through the paper edits of The Trouble with Necromancers. I’ve forgotten how much I like editing on paper. It’s so tactile.

In Coffee and Ghosts news, I have all the large print editions available. You can find them most easily on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Not only that, The Complete Coffee and Ghosts is now live on all vendors (and in print).

You may have noticed that I didn’t do a launch for this box set. My goal is to (hopefully, eventually) snag a BookBub featured deal on the set. But for now, it’s selling quite well on Barnes and Noble.

Also? I took the plunge (again) and signed up for the Iowa Summer Writing Festival. So. Very. Excited.

Weekly writing check-in: novella!

Just a quick check-in to say: The Trouble with Doppelgangers is complete at 24,000 (give or take). I’m relieved that it didn’t turn into an actual novel. Because I would need to write another subscriber bonus (which would then turn into another novel … you get the idea).

It also reminded me how much I like writing novellas. One of these days, I’m going to have to write another novella series (I have an idea in mind, one involving dragons–sort of).

So, once I launch the Tea & Sorcery series, I’ll send the bonus to my mail list (for the curious, you can sign up for that here).

Weekly writing check-in: sugar maple show-off

I missed checking in last week due to a big event my Girl Scout troop hosted. This week, I’ve been down with a virus (fortunately just that) so I’m not quite done with the novella. Almost. I can see the end from here, and I’m excited to get back to it.

So this week, this week, I’m hoping to finish up the novella. Then, it’s thinking time. I’m not sure what I’ll tackle next. The third draft of the series starter? Maybe. Or maybe I’ll let that rest for a little while longer and revise another novel that’s been on the back burner.

We’ll see.

That’s it for this week. Until next time, I’ll leave you with all those gorgeous leaves.

Weekly writing check-in: painting and progress

I missed last week, but I have a good excuse. To the left. That. That’s my desk at the moment.

And last weekend, I was all: I can’t even.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m pretty sure it’s not an oncoming train.

I have been getting some writing in (thank you, Starbucks). I have about 15,000 in the novella so far, and I really hope I can finish it up this coming week.

In other news, I’m doing a short-term promotion for Straying from the Path.